Building block



Sept. 3, 1963 P. s. PEDERSEN ETAL 3,102,367

BUILDING BLOCK Filed Sept. 18, 1957 'wnn' FHIIII WU INVENTORS: PETER S. PEDERSEN EDWARD MARTIN sYW/QZ'M ATT'YS BUILDING BLOCK I f Peter S. Pedersen,1131 S. Chester St., Park Ridge, 111., and Edward Martin, 717 N. Wolcott Ave., Chicago, Filed Sept.'18, 1957, Ser. No. 684,750

Claims. (Cl. 50-453) tural members that may be used in the construction of walls and the like, in a novel and expeditious manner.

A further object of the present invention is to afford novel prefabricated structural members which may, be

connected together in a novel and expeditious manner.

, Another object of the present invention is to. enable prefabricated structural members to be afforded in the form of building blocks, or the like, which may be connected together by novel articulated connections in a novel and expeditious manner. a

Yet another object is to afford novel prefabricated structural members whichhave complementary male and female parts on the opposite ends thereof, the parts'being so constituted and arranged that the structural members may be connected together in a chain, male and female part on each member connected to the complementary female and male parts, respectively, of other members in such a way as to enable the structural members in the chain to be latched together in a novel and expeditious manner in various positions so asr to enable walls of various shapes-to be quickly and easily selectively constructed. I

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford novel structural members of the aforementioned type which maybe quickly and easily connected together in either horizontally or vertically extending chains and may also be quickly and easily stacked vertically, with the adjacent stacks connected together in a novel and I expeditious manner.

A further object of the present invention is to afford novel prefabricated structuralmembers having complementary connecting parts, including teeth, on 'the opposite ends thereof, with the connecting parts constituted and arranged in such a manner that the structural members may be connected together in a chain with the teeth on the connecting members of adjacent structural members engaged with each other so as to' hold the ad- 'jacent structural members in predetermined position relative to each other.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawingswhich,

by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of ;'the present invention and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying these principles. ments of the inventionembodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be i made as desired bythose skilled in the art without,

Other embodi- 3,102,357 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 ice departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the-drawings: p s.

FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof astructural member, in the form of a building block, embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of ablock of the type shown in FIG. 1, showing the block connected to the end portion of another like block;

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of, a portion of the block shown in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of blocks embodying the construction of the block shown in FIG. 1, showing the blocks connected together in a straight horizontally extending chain A block 10, embodying the principles of our invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of our invention. i

, Our novel building blocks r111 may be used to rapidly erect or construct walls, arches, temporary forms, and the like, and are particularly well adapted for the rapid construction of storage bins, silos, and the like, as will be discussed in greater detailpresently.

Each of the building blocks 10 embodies a substantially rectangular-shaped body member 12 having a substantially cylindrical-shaped male connecting member 14 projecting from one end thereof, and a substantially cylindrical-shaped recess 16 formed on the other end thereohthe recess ,16 being complementary insize and shape to the connecting member 14 to thereby afford a female connecting member, as will be discussed in greater detailpresently. 1 j I a j 1 The body member 12 has a flat upper face and a flat lower face 19, disposedin parallel spaced relation to each other; It also has two oppositely disposed parallel side faces 20 and 21 which are perpendicular to and extend between the upper .and lower faces 18 and 19.

The male connecting member 1*4projects from an end 23 of the body member 12 ahdis preferably so disposed on the end 23 that it is substantiallycentered between the side faces 20 and 21, with theilongitudinal axis ofthe cylindrical-shaped member 14 disposed perpendicular to the planes of the faces 18 and 19 and extending through the longitudinal center lines of the latter faces.

The connecting member 14, is connected, onone side thereof, to a fiat surface 25,, which forms the side edge of the end 23 adjacent to the side face 20, and which surface ,is disposed substantially perpendicular to the upper and lowerfaces 18 and 19. On the other side thereof, the connecting member 14- is connected to a radially disposed flat surface '27, which is preferably set oif 270 degrees in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, with respect to the surface 25. The flat surface 27 is connected at its opposite side thereof from connecting member 14 to a generally arcuate-shaped surface 29 defined-by a plurality of adjacent elongated teeth 31 extending betweentheupper and lower faces 18 and 19, FIG. 1. The arcuate-shaped surface 29 on the body member 12 is disposed in parallel spaced-relation to the adjacent surface of the connecting member 14 to thereby define an outwardly opening arcuate-shaped groove or recess 33 projecting outwardly from the flat surface 27.

The substantially cylindricalshaped recess 16 is disposed in the' other end 35' of the body member 12 in parallel relation tothe male connecting member 14, and is connected at one side to the flat surface 37, which forms the side edge portionof the end 35 adjacent to theside face 20 of the body member 12. The recess 16 is connected at its other side to a radially disposed flat surface 39, which is preferably set off 225 degrees in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2,

. to the surface 37. The surface 39 forms the outer example, in constructing a vertically extending wall, such as the wall W shown in FIG. 4, a building block may be placedlinhorizontally extending position on the base 7 or foundation of the wall to be constructed, with the face facing upwardly and with the block 10 extending longitudinally-in the direction of the length of the wall to be constructed. Two other building blocks 10 may then be connected to the respective ends of the building block 10, with the connecting members 14 and 16 of the first building block 10 connected to the connecting member 16 and 14, respectively, ofthe respective other two blocks.' Thus,for example, in connecting the right end as viewed in FIG. 1, of the first building block 10 to a second block, the cylindrical-shaped male connecting member 14 of the second block may he slid longitudinally downwardly into the recess 16 of the first block 10, with the lip 41 of the first block disposed in the recess 33 in the second block and with the teeth 45 in the first block disposed in meshed engagement with the, teeth 31 in the second block. The lips 41, the recesses 33, and the teeth 45 and 31 are disposed on the blocks 10 in suchfposition that as the maleconnecting members 14 are thus slid downwardly into the recesses 16, the lips 41 and the recesses 33 may also be similarly slid into engagement with each'other, the teeth 31 sliding downward-lyinto engagement with the teeth 45.

At the other end of the'first block 10, namely at the left end thereof as viewed in FIG. 1, a third block may be similarly connected to the first block 10. In this instance, the female connecting member 16 of the third block is slid downwardly onto the male connecting member -14. of the first block with the lip41 and teeth 45 cf the third block sliding downwardly into the recess 33 and into engagement with the teeth 31, respectively, of the first block.

If the wall being thus constructed is to be a straight wall, the second and .third blocks are slid downwardly into connecting engagement with the first block 10 in such position that the surface 25on the second block is disposed in juxtaposition to the surface 37 on the first block, and the surface 37 on the third block is disposed in juxtaposition to the surface 25 on the first block, the teeth 31 and 45 being so disposed on the blocks 10 that they will engage. with each other in position to permitsuch engagement of the adjacent surfaces 25 and 37. When the adjacent blocks 10 are disposed .in such position, the surfaces 27 thereof, such as the surface 27 of the first block 10, was shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, are spaced dirom the adjacent surfaces 39 of the adjacent other" blocks, such as the surface 39- of the aforementioned third block 10, as shown in solid lines 7 in FIG. 2, at an angle of forty-five degrees, the teeth 31 e and 45 on the thus connected blocks being effective to hold theblocksltl against pivoting around the cylindrical connections 16- 14 away from the engagement of the adjacent surfaces 25 and 37.

If, on the other hand, it is desired to erect a wall which. is not straight in a horizontal direction, such as, for example, in the construction of the walls of a substantially circular-shaped silo, storage bin, or the like, the adjacent blocks ltl may be connected together at any angle at which the adjacentteeth 31 and 45 will engage between the above described straight line position and a positlon wherein the blocks are disposed at an angle of forty-five degrees to each other, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. In this latter position, the adjacent faces 25 and 37 cfthe adjacent interconnected blocks will be spaced from eachother, and the adjacent faces 27 and 39 of the interconnected blocks will be disposed in juxtaposition to each other, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the surfaces 25 and 27 in each block are described herein as being in planes which are disposed at an angle of 270 degrees to each other, and the surfaces 37 and 39 are described herein as being in planes which are disposed at an angle of 225 degrees to each other, to thereby permit angular adjustment of adjacent blocks up to 45 degrees relative to each other, this is merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, and the surfaces may be set'at any other desired practical angle necessary to permit limitsof angular adjustment, other than limits of 45 degrees, without departing from the purview of this invention. j

In the construction of a wall such as, for example, the wallW shown in FIG. 4, we prefer that alternate blocks 10 of the lowermost chain of blocks used in the construction of the-wall be of lesser thickness, such as, for example, one-half the thickness of the other blocks in that chain. Thereafter, the blocks used in constructing the wall may be all of the same thickness until the uppermost chain of blocks isplaced in position, at which time other blocks of half-thickness are added to the stacks" thereof. Thus, for example, as best seen in FIG. 4, the

' (lowermost block 10 in the center stack is one-half the position in their respective stacks and, when so posi tioned, the lower halves of their adjacent ends are connected to the upper halves of the respective adjacent ends of the second block in the center stack. This staggered relationship of adjacent blocks may be continued throughout the height of the wall being constructed until,

at the top thereof, a half-block maybe disposed on the center stack to level the top surface of the wall.

This construction may be used with our novel blocks in constructing curved or angular walls, as well as in the construction of a straight wall, such'as the wall W shown in FIG, 4, and is particularly well adapted for constructing strong, self-supporting polygonal, or substantially circular shaped walls hor silos, storage bins, and the like, wherein the [chains of blocks 10 are connected together at their ends to afford continuous, substantially annularshaped chains.

If desired, the teeth 31 and 45 may bear indicia, not shown, thereon, which afford guide means which may be matched with each othetr'in predetermined combinations to afford vanious angular positioning of the inter connected blocks 10 relative to each other. Thus, for example, with blocks such as the blocks 10, shown in the drawings, which may be connected together at various angles between a straight-line position and a 45 degree like.

disposed at the desired angle relative to each others It 1 will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, andthat,

if desired, the blocks may be marked with other indicia indicating other angular relationships.

Also, it will be appreciated that, if desired, the building blocks 10 may also be used to construct other structures such as, for example, arches, and the like. In the latter types of construction, the blocks 10 may be placed on end, the length. thereof extending upwardly from the horizontal and with the side faces 21 forming the inner Ifaces of the arch to be constructed.

We prefer to make the body members12 of the building blocks '10 of concrete, or the like, but, as will be. appreciated by those skilled in the art, they may be made or other suitable materials such as, for, example, suitable plastic materials, pressed wood, aluminum, steel, or the The teeth 31 and 45 are preferably made of metal and, when the body member 12 of the blocks 10 are made of concrete or other non-metallic material, the teeth 45 and 31 may be afforded by suitable inserts, such as the inserts 55 and 56, which are identical in construction,

. each being substantially T-shaped, and having a shank 57 on one end of which is disposed an enlarged head 58. The teeth 31 and 45 are formed in the outer faces of the heads 58 of the inserts 55 and 56, respectively, and the In addition, it will be seen that the building blocks of the present invention may be made of relatively small size such as, for example, toy building blocks, and the like.

From the foregoing it will also be seen that our invention affords novelbuildingstructure which may be readily and effectively used, and which may be readily and economically produced oorrnnencially.

inserts 55 and 56, which may be made of any suitable material, such as, steel, are embedded in the body member 12. The shanks 57 of the inserts 55 and 56 may have openings 59 therethrough which serve as anchoring r openings therein, the material from which body members 12 are iormed projecting into the openings 59 to thereby assist in holding the inserts 55 and 56 in the proper position in the body members 12.

If desired, the teeth 31 and 45 of our novel building blocks 10 may be donned of the same material and integrally with body member 12, without departing from the purview of our invention.

As may best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the upper edge 20a and the lower edge 20b of the side wall 20 of each of the blocks 10 is chamfered, and substantially arcuate-shaped grooves 61 are formed in the faces 18 and 19. The grooves 61, in each face 18 and 1-9, are disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other, with each groove 61 in each face 18 and 19 disposed in parallel relation to a groove 61 in the other face 19 or :18, and extend inwardly from the side wall 20. They terminate at their inner ends toward the centers of the respective faces 18 and 1 9 in spaced relation to the side wall 21, and, at their outer ends, open into the chamfered edges 20a and 20b of the side wall 20 and the faces 18 and 19, respectively.

Thus, it will be seen that with the blocks 10 disposed in position wherein the faces 18 and 19 of adjacent blocks are disposed in juxtaposition to each other, the spaces formed by the adjacent 'chamfered edges 20a and 20b may be filled with mortar, or the like, the mortar flowing, or being forced back into the grooves 61 to afford an effective tie or lock for the mortar between the chamfered edges. The spaces between the adjacent outer end corners of the blocks 10 may also be suitably filled with mortar, or the like, to afford a well sealed, smooth walled structure.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have afforded novel structural members, by the use of which, structures having flat walls or angular walls may be quickly and easily constructed. It will be apparent that our like, of polygonal or substantially circular shape.

Thus, while we have illustrated anddes'cribed't he pre- \ferred embodimentof our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, a'ndvve therefore do not wish to belimited to the precise details set north, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims. r

We claim:

1. Ina building structure, two elongated body meme, bers, and means connecting said body members to each other in end-to-end relation, said means comprisinga male connecting portion on one end of one of said body members, said male connecting portion having a recess having a concave arcuate surface defined by a plurality of teeth, and a female connecting portion on one end of the other of said body members mounted on said male connecting portion, said female connecting portion having an arcuateshaped tongue having a convex arcuate surface defined by a plurality of teeth, said last mentioned teeth being meshed with said firstmentioned teeth.

'2. In a building structure, two elongated building blocks connected together in endto-end relation, each of said blocks comprising an elongated body member, a connecting member on one end of one of said body members, said connecting member having a substantially cylindricalshaped recess formed therein and having an arcuate-shaped arm projecting around said recess, said arm having an arcuate outer face having teeth formed therein, and another connecting member on one end of the other of said body members, said other connecting member having an outwardly projecting substantially cylindrical-shaped member mounted in said recess, and means on said other body member defining an arcuate-shaped recess around said cylindrical-shaped member, said last mentioned recess having one face defined by a plurality of teeth, said arm being mounted in said last mentioned recess with said first mentioned teeth engaged with said second mentioned teeth.

3. A prefabricated building block comprising an elongated body member, female connecting means on one end of said body member, and male connecting means, complementary to said fem-ale connecting means, on the other end of said body member, said male connecting means said last mentioned member, said last mentioned means including a member having a plurality of teeth defining one side of said recess and facing toward said cylindricalshaped member, said female connecting member having a recess complementary to said male connecting member, and an arm extending around a portion of said last mentioned recess and complementary to said first mentioned recess, said. arm having teeth, complementary to said first mentioned teeth, on the side thereof which is complementary to said one side of said first mentioned recess.

4. In a building structure, two elongated body members, and means connecting said body members to each other in end-to-end relation, said means comprising a substantially cylindricalshaped male connecting member mounted on one end of one of said body members in position to define an .arcuate-shaped recess between said male member and said body member, a substantially cylindrical-shaped female connecting member on the other of said body members and holdingly engaged with said male member, said last mentioned connecting member having an arm projecting into said recess, a metal member having a plurality of teeth thereon, said metal member being mounted on said body member in position to disposed said teeth along one side of said recess, and another metal member having a plurality of teeth thereon,

'said 'othermetal member-being mounted onsaid arm substantially flat shoulder at one side thereof, and another end having another substantially fiat shoulder at one side thereofiand complementary male and; female connecting means 1011 said one end and other end, respectively, for connecting said blocks together in end-to-end relation with a said one shoulder and said other shoulder of the respective "blocks disposed .in abutting engagement with each other, said male and female connecting means on each of said blocks comprising a male connecting member projectingoutwardly from said one end laterally inwardly from said one shoulder and defining with said one end an arcuate-shaped recess on the other side of said connecting member from said one shoulder, a substantially arcuate-shaped lip complementary in cross-section to said recess, saidlip projecting outwardly from said other end on the opposite side thereof from said other shoulder and defining with said other end, between said lip and said other shoulder, a recess complementary in cross-section to said connecting member, said first and second mentioned recesses of each of said blocks being adapted'to receive saidtlip and connecting member, respectively, of the other of said blocks when said blocks are so connected together,

and a plurality of projections on each of said ends, said projections on each of said ends having recesses between adjacent pairs thereof, and said projections on each of Said ends being engageable in said last mentioned recesses in the other of said ends of the other block to thereby hold said shoulders in said abutting engagement when sai blocks are so connected to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.- 23,074 Henderson Jan. 11,1949 1,798,410 Fish t- Mar. 31,1931 1,978,283 Rew Oct. 23, 1934 2,020,881 Ferris Nov. 12, 1935 2,558,367 Madsen June 26, 1951 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 849,766 France Aug. 28,1939 443,072 Italy Dec. 6, 1948 507,093

Belgium Nov. 30, 1951 

1. IN A BUILDING STRUCTURE, TWO ELONGATED BODY MEMBERS, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID BODY MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER IN END-TO-END RELATION, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A MALE CONNECTING PORTION ON ONE END OF ONE OF SAID BODY MEMBERS, SAID MALE CONNECTING PORTION HAVING A RECESS HAVING A CONCAVE ARCUATE SURFACE DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OF TEETH, AND A FEMALE CONNECTING PORTION ON ONE END OF THE OTHER OF SAID BODY MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID MALE CONNECTING PORTION, SAID FEMALE CONNECTING PORTION HAVING AN ARCUATESHAPED TONGUE HAVING A CONVEX ARCUATE SURFACE DEFINED BY; A PLURALITY OF TEETH, SAID LAST MENTIONED TEETH BEING MESHED WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED TEETH. 